128 AUDUBON 



wards over the prairie back of the fort, for a mile or more, 

 running at the very top of its speed; suddenly it will 

 make for the gate, rush through and overwhelm Baptiste 

 with caresses, as if it had actually lost him for some time. 

 If Baptiste lies on the ground pretending to sleep, the fawn 

 pushes with its nose, and licks his face as a dog would, till 

 he awakens. 



Augusts, Thursday. We observed yesterday that the 

 atmosphere was thick, and indicated the first appearance 

 of the close of summer, which here is brief The nights 

 and mornings have already become cool, and summer 

 clothes will not be needed much longer, except occasion- 

 ally. Harris and Sprague went to the hills so much en- 

 crusted with shells. We have had some talk about going 

 to meet Bell and Owen, but the distance is too great, and 

 Mr. C. told me he was not acquainted with the road beyond 

 the first twenty-five or thirty miles. We have had a slight 

 shower, and Mr. C. and I walked across the bar to see the 

 progress of the boat. The horse that died near the river 

 was hauled across to the sand-bar, and will make good cat- 

 fish bate for our fishers. This morning we had another 

 visitation of Indians, seven in number; they were very 

 dirty, wrapped in disgusting Buffalo robes, and were not 

 allowed inside the inner gate, on account of their filthy 

 condition. 



August 4, Friday. We were all under way this morning 

 at half-past five, on a Buffalo hunt, that is to say, the resi- 

 due oi us, Harris and I, for Bell was away with Owen, and 

 Squires with Provost after Bighorns, and Sprague at Fort 

 Mortimer. Tobacco and matches had been forgotten, and 

 that detained us for half an hour ; but at last we started in 

 good order, with only one cart following us, which carried 

 Pike and Moncrdvier. We saw, after we had travelled ten 

 miles, some Buffalo bulls ; some alone, others in groups of 

 four or five, a few Antelopes, but more shy than ever be- 

 fore. I was surprised to see how careless the bulls were 



